Improvement in abdominal supporters



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

RUTH T. REED.

} ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER. No.185,782. Patented 1m. 26, 1876.

WITNESSES Z ggovx 1 ca i=9 0y .ATTORNEYS- THE GRAPHIC COJLYA 2 Sheets-She et 2.

RUTH T. REED.

ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER.

Patented Dec. 26, 1876.

No.185,78Z.

INVENTOR WITNESSZSg ATTCRNEYS- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RUTH T. REED, OF ROCHESTER, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN ABDOMINAL SUPPORTERS.

Speclication forming part of Letters Patent 0. 185,782, dated December 26, 1876; application filed I October 21,1876.

To all whomrit may concern:

Be it known that I, RUTH T. REED, of Rochester, in the county of Fulton and State of Indiana, have invented a new and valu-- able Improvement in Abdominal Supporters;

tion of a front View of my abdominal sup porter. Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof.

This invention relates to abdominal supporters; and consists in the construction and arrangement of the parts hereinafter described.

A designates a system of suspenders for my abdominal supporter, consisting of three front straps, a a a, and two back straps, a a, all of which are united in front at a point, a a little below the wearers breast. If preferred, two of said front straps may be con tinued, so as to form said back straps, which cross behind and are secured together like pantaloon-suspenders. The said back straps are extended over the wearers shoulders,

converging to said point of front attachment 0?, where they meet said front straps. This construction leaves the wearers breast free, and not liable to be irritated by the rubbing of said straps. This latter annoyance is further guarded against by covering said straps at their points of meeting or crossing with ehamois-leather.

Said suspending-straps a a are connected 'by means of five buttons, b, to an elastic belt, B, which encircles. the wearers waist,

and forms the extreme upper portion of the supporter proper.

If preferred, thehereinbetbre-described suspenders may in many cases be dispensed with, said belt being alone relied upon for sustaining the weight and strain.

The main portion or body 0 of said abdominal supporter is shaped like a pair of pantaloons, the legs of which have been removed at the crotch; and from the middle of the lower part thereof two stufled strap-shaped pads, D D, of chamois-leather, extend downward, so as to pass between the thighs and close under the body. Said pads are in the form of continuous bands, extending from front to rear, leaving on both sides holes for the passage of the wearers thighs.

When not in use, said pads stand apart, as shown in Fig. 2, but when worn, they are forced close together, as shown in Fig. 1.

The said abdominal supporter is divided at the back, where the sides are brought together, and laced by cord passing through eyelets e e, in chamois-leather strips F F. In front and at the sides thinner strips G, of the same material, extend from belt B to pads D D.

H designates three elastic strips, of rubber or similar material, which are inserted in the main part 0 of said supporter, at the front and sides thereof, for the purpose of allowing the said supporter to accommodate itself to any incidental enlargement of the wearers body.

I designates several broad thin pieces of silk, or other light material, which are interposed between the above-described strips of chamois-leather, to make the supporter lighter and cooler. V

J designates a pad, which is secured to the inside of said supporter, so as to cover lacing E e, and to fit into the hollow of the wearers back. All parts of said supporter are attached together by sewing.

The supporter above described sustains and braces all parts of the abdomen, and will be found especially useful in cases of prolapsus uteri and pregnancy.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, but I prefer the device as shown and described.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

RUTH T. REED.

Witnesses:

JNo. W. SMITH, D. MoCoNNEHY. 

